Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 469 · 40 questions

Debater's tip (Two sides, one motion): Motion: the statement being debated, often starting “This House believes…” or “This House would…”. Proposition: for the motion, speaks first, defines the key words, ends “I beg to propose”. Opposition: against it, answers the proposition, ends “I beg to oppose”. Good debate topics for students have two real sides; a plain fact is not debatable.

1. 1.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
2. 2.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
3. 3.True or false: “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) must prove the motion (d) answers the proposition
5. 5.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
7. 7.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Dear diary…” (b) “Breaking news…” (c) “This House…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
8. 8.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
9. 9.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
14. 14.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) two sides to argue (c) a hidden answer (d) no clear meaning
15. 15.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the judges
16. 16.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
17. 17.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
19. 19.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) is for the motion (d) speaks first
20. 20.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes a week has seven days.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to propose”
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) is against the motion (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) says “I beg to propose”
24. 24.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) is for the motion (d) answers the proposition
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
27. 27.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
28. 28.⚖️ Which side may test the definition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
29. 29.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
33. 33.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
34. 34.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) must disprove the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
35. 35.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
36. 36.True or false: “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable

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